RIDGEFIELD AMENDS SIGN CODE

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Ridgefield city council members voted Feb. 12 to adopt a revised sign code with an amendment to allow three types of specialty signs.

The ordinance reflects recommendations forwarded to council members by the Ridgefield Planning Commission and a city sign committee. The committee was headed by longtime Ridgefield residents Fran Kemper and John Dingethal.

Ridgefield has had a sign code since 1973. It was updated in 1989 and 1995.

In creating the new draft, committee and commission members wanted to make provisions for area growth while keeping Ridgefield's small town character intact, said project facilitator Madi Deotsche of E2 Land Use Services.

The code pertains to the size, scope, placement and look of a variety of signs and display areas including directional, portable, wall, rooftop, inflatable, commercial and industrial signs, flags and banners, sign lighting and electronic messaging.

Business leaders, school officials and citizens raised issues with the planning commission's recommendation during a Jan. 22 public hearing when council members first discussed the new code.

Developer Tom Borkus said the commission's recommendation would create problems for businesses wanting to develop at the I-5 junction. One freeway sign would be allowed per legal lot under the recommendation, but only if the lot abutted the freeway and if the sign was placed 300 feet from I-5.

Signs also could not exceed 350 square feet and 40 feet in height, which Borkus said is not an issue.

The recommendation also created potential problems for the Ridgefield School District.

Superintendent Mary Vagner and District legal council Marney Allen requested exemptions to the code to allow for the Spudder sign on the face of the high school and the community donors' sign on the school's reader board.

If the Spudder sign ever needed to be replaced, its size would need to be reduced by some 60 percent to meet new requirements, Allen said.

Planning commissioners did not recommend allowances for community donor signs, fearing a precedence would be set that would allow an influx of area billboards and sign clutter.

Council members voted unanimously Feb. 12 with little comment to accept the planning commission's recommendation with allowances for freeway, community donor and heritage signs.

Freeway signs will now be allowed in any legal lot at the junction, not only in those abutting the interstate.

Community donor signs are allowed on publicly owned property. The signs must recognize individuals or organizations that have donated $100,000 or more to the entity that owns the property where the sign is located. Donor signs can not exceed 40 square feet.

Heritage signs are allowed, providing an exemption is requested and approved. The sign must be "public" and non-commercial in nature, and represent community institutions or social organizations, and have been in place for 25 years or more.

Campground reservations at PacifiCorp's Cresap Bay and Cougar Camp parks along the Lewis River can be made starting Mon., March 1.

The company's reservation line, (503) 813-6666, will be available weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Other PacifiCorp-owned parks with campgrounds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

PacifiCorp operates nine recreational facilities along three Lewis River reservoirs with 318 camping and 268 picnic sites. Amenities include free hot showers, swimming beaches, boat ramps, restrooms, fresh water and sewage dumps.

The facilities extend from Merwin Park located 10 miles east of Woodland to Swift Camp which is about 40 miles to the east.

Camping fees are $15 a night a most facilities, and $12 at Swift Forest Campground. Extra occupants are charged $2 each. Group picnic sites at Merwin Park cost $15 plus parking.

Between Memorial Day and Sept. 15, a parking fee of $3 is charged on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at day-use parks. The parking fee at Merwin Park is $1.

Parking passes for the summer season are $20, available at the Woodland Information Center, Jack's Restaurant, Cougar Store, and at fee booths in the parks. They are also available by mail: Recreation Department, PacifiCorp, 825 NE Multnomah St., Suite 1500, Portland, OR 97232.

PacifiCorp contracts with Thousand Trails Management Services for park management, and with the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office and Clark County Marine Board for security.

Alcohol is not allowed at any PacifiCorp recreational facility.

Information, Dave Kvamme, (503) 813-7279.

VOTERS WILL FACE C-TRAN TAX IN SEPTEMBER

Clark County voters will be asked in September to increase the sales tax to pay for expanded C-Tran bus service.

A simple majority vote would double the C-Tran tax from .3 percent to .6 percent, providing the agency an additional $13 million to do its work.

C-Tran lost about $11.7 annually when the excise tax on vehicle licenses was repealed in 1999. Since then, the agency has used reserves to balance its budget, according to Scott Patterson, C-Tran spokesman.

C-Tran has made cuts in service and increased fares since 1999 as well.

The new tax would expand weekday and weekend service over present levels, and extend service to from the present 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

New service would be added within the city of Battle Ground and along I-205 routes to Portland. Service would also be expanded in existing Clark County routes.

The plan calls for the construction of a park and ride facilities near I-5 and NE 99th St. and at I-205, plus additional bus stop shelters.

The plan could also include a fare increase.

Details of the service plan have yet to be developed.

The C-Tran board opted for this plan from among five alternatives offered by staff that ranged from no sales tax increase to a tripling of the tax.

The board also directed C-Tran staff to prepare a plan for bus service should voters turn down the proposed new tax.

The no-new-tax plan would reduce bus service, shrink the taxing boundary to the Vancouver Urban Growth Boundary, and end service to Battle Ground, Camas and Washougal.

Service to Ridgefield was eliminated in 2000.

The no-new-tax option would also include the elimination of weekend service and decreases in the frequency of service.

All three Clark County commissioners are members of the C-Tran board, along with Vancouver, Battle Ground and Washougal city council members, and the mayor of La Center.

EDITORIAL:

CONSIDER FARE INCREASE

Voters will be asked in September to increase the sales tax to improve bus service in Clark County. A significant fare increase should be considered as well.

C-Tran has made service cuts since losing vehicle excise tax revenue in 2000. In-county fares were increased from 60 cents to $1 during this same period. A trip to Portland costs the rider $1.75.

Despite these changes, the agency continues to draw from its reserve fund to balance its budget. C-Tran's $72 million reserve fund could be down to $17 million by 2005, officials say, or lower.

Set aside for the moment questions about how or why C-Tran amassed $72 million in reserves.

The basic fare for a C-Tran ride is now $1. Why is it not $2 or $3 or more? Why is a trip to Portland only $1.75?

C-Tran officials say that 60 percent of riders use the bus to commute to work, about a third of whom commute to Portland. Riders have a mean income of $30,000-$40,000, say officials.

Gas, auto wear-and tear, and parking cost way more than current fares. While fare increases would likely cause some reduction in ridership, this writer believes it would be minimal. Portland commuters would likely continue to ride with a $3-4 fare each way, or even higher.

At present, taxpayers pay about $1.88 each time a passenger gets aboard a C-Tran bus.

Fare revenue is only about 18 percent of the C-Tran budget. Why can't fare revenue be doubled or tripled? How much of the budget shortfall could be made up with a significant fare increase?

C-Tran officials are studying a fare increase to go along with the new tax. They may wish to raise their sights on the scope of such a fare hike.

Faced with a statewide sales tax increase, various school bonds, new library taxes, and other proposed tax hikes, the C-Tran request will face an uncertain future in September. Officials should be ready with an alternative plan for changes in service--and fares--should a tax increase be rejected.

COUNTY SURVEY WORK NOT APPROPRIATE, OFFICIAL ADMITS

About 100 staff hours of survey work performed by Clark County crews for the J.L. Storedahl & Sons gravel company near La Center should not have been done, said Pete Capell who heads the Clark County Public Works Department.

Capell said an attempt will be made to recover the cost of the errant survey work.

Capell said that a county employee authorized the survey work, believing the survey involved property lines between Storedahl property and land the County owns in the area.

But no survey work was done between the two ownerships.

Instead, County crews, at the request of the Storedahl company, surveyed the road right-of-way so that Storedahl crews could install fences on both sides of Bennet Rd., J.A. Moore Road and NE 61st Ave. on property owned by the Storedahl company.

Capell blamed communication failures for the survey work.

Capell declined to identify the employee who authorized the survey work.

When crews arrived, said Capell, they learned that the survey was along the road only, not elsewhere. Surveyors questioned whether the work was appropriate, "but not vigorously," said Capell.

"We had an employee who is a very conscientious, dedicated, good employee who felt the value of the fence (between County and Storedahl property) warranted the trade," said Capell. "He authorized the survey work. It was wrong. But what's done is done."

"I'm embarrassed," said Capell.

Capell said the sensitivity to the controversial planned expansion of the Storedahl mining work along the East Fork of the Lewis River "compounds the problem."

"It did happen and it shouldn't have," said Capell.

Capell said the person who approved the survey work is a supervisor in the maintenance section of the Public Works Department.

Capell said Storedahl paid the full cost of fence construction, and will be asked to pay for the survey work.

The survey work involved four crew-days, said Capell, which would add up to about 96 staff hours plus supervision. He estimated the actual labor cost at $3,000. He said he would review actual time records and costs in the effort to recover the expense from Storedahl.

Dean Swanson, a resident of the Daybreak area, said the free surveying work is an example of the close relationship between County employees and the Storedahl company. He brought the survey work to the attention of staff at The Reflector.

Swanson said that relationship violates the appearance of fairness that should be given to public comments on the Storedahl expansion planning.

"Where is the appearance of fairness," questioned Storedahl.

Swanson has been a critic of the Storedahl plan to expand gravel mining operations in that area, joining others concerned about water quality and quantity in the East Fork of the Lewis River.

Capell denied the existence of a cozy, compromising relationship between the county and Storedahl. He said Storedahl is currently suing the County over issues relating to a Clean Water Permit.

Kimball Storedahl said his company simply asked the county to survey the road right-of-way in the area and the county complied. "If it wasn't the right thing to do, they shouldn't have done it," said Kimball.

In the surveying process, said Kimball, crews found parts of the road strayed from county right-of-way onto Storedahl property. Rather than move the road, said Storedahl, County surveyors staked 30 feet from the center on both sides. Fence construction followed.

Storedahl said official records will be prepared to leave the road where it is.

Capell said it has generally been known over the years that portions of the road were not exactly in the right place.

Storedahl said 9,500 feet of the 6-strand, barbed-wire fence is needed to help keep out people who dump garbage and cause vandalism on private property.

Similar to prior incident

County work to benefit the Storedahl company has occurred before.

In a 1991 incident investigated by the state Auditor's Office, county crews paved a private driveway at the Storedahl gravel operation at a cost of over $8,000.

In that case, the County recovered the cost of the work from Storedahl.

The Auditor's report said the county has no statutory authority to perform road work on private property and should refrain from doing so in the future.

The Storedahl driveway was paved to two lanes for nearly a half mile. That work was also in the Daybreak vicinity.

George Stillman, who then headed the County's Public Works Department, called the decision to pave a "bad judgment call." Stillman said he did not discipline people for bad judgment calls "when they make the first one."

Irby's, a lunch and dinner restaurant at 801 E Main St., Battle Ground, will become a smoke-free establishment on Thurs., Feb. 26.

Proprietor Steve Irby said the change is made to honor the wishes of customers, "so all can enjoy the ambience, wines and cuisine in comfort."

The sale of cigars will continue at present, said Irby.

The business is open Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 666-4877.

LAW BUSTS FAMILY "DOPE" BUSINESS IN RIDGEFIELD

Drug raid is third in 30 days

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Acting on a citizen tip and armed with a search warrant, Ridgefield, La Center, Kalama and state Department of Corrections police officers busted an alleged family-run marijuana growing business in Ridgefield.

The sophisticated hydroponic system discovered in the house wasn't used for growing plump tomatoes.

"Not too many people grow tomato plants in three upstairs rooms of their house," said Ridgefield police chief Bruce Hall. "This was clearly used in a drug operation."

Officers seized 45 plants in various stages of maturity in three upstairs rooms. The plants had a street value of more than $10,000, said Hall.

A sophisticated growing system of electric water pumps and plastic pipes that could start as many as 30 plants at once was found and also confiscated, said Hall.

Carl M. Sands, 43, his wife, Tracy R. Sands, 41, and their 17-year-old son were arrested just before noon Feb. 17 at their home, 116 N Main Ave., one-half block south of the Ridgefield Police Department.

All three are charged with felony possession with intent to deliver and manufacture a controlled substance.

Another 18-year-old son at home was not charged, Hall said, because he did not have any of the drug or paraphernalia on his person.

Officers reportedly found written notes, a large amount of cash and other evidence that the family was dealing the drug out of their home as well as drug-related paraphernalia.

A few hours after the raid, an officer from the Portland Police Bureau contacted Hall regarding a call allegedly made by the 18-year-old son to a Portland relative who the family suspected of turning them in. The relative called 911 after receiving the threatening phone call.

The son reportedly called the relative during the raid and threatened to set fire to the relative's house and vehicles, Hall said.

This new case is under investigation, officials said.

Hall said the family had been living at the S Main Ave. house about one year. In his opinion, it appeared the Sands had a full-fledged operation underway.

"There wasn't a room in the house that didn't have some sort of drug paraphernalia, prescription drugs and marijuana in it," he said. "The health department and Child Protective Services were called."

Hall said there are two other minor children in the family who were not at home during the raid and are now living with relatives.

This was the third marijuana growing operation busted in the city limits within 30 days, Hall said.

In early February, officers recovered 14 marijuana plants in a house on Elm St. as a result of a domestic violence call for help, and 22 plants at a residence on Pioneer St in late January.

"These are more than average grows," said Hall. "Our success in finding these is because we're looking harder, we're getting more tips and working with the community."

Hall also said a strong indication of growing drug use in any community is spikes in burglaries, vehicle prowls and such crimes, which Ridgefield has experienced in recent months.

"We're getting to the root of the problem," Hall said. "Ridgefield has the second lowest crime rate in the county and we want to keep it that way."

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

A tightened Clark County budget will end contracts with Ridgefield and La Center police departments to answer calls for help outside city limits.

Since 1997, the city departments were paid to assist Clark County sheriff's deputies in calls just outside city limits but in the county's jurisdiction.

La Center's contract will end March 1. They stand to lose about $96,000 annually, although the County still owes the the city $46,000 for last year's services.

Ridgefield's contract ends June 1 and the city will lose about $70,000. However, The County hasn't paid in more than one year.

According to Ridgefield chief Bruce Hall, an agreement was recently made between city and County officials to pay the $70,000 owed plus about $29,000 for service until midnight May 31.

City police will continue to help deputies answer to emergencies outside the boundaries, said Hall. Non-emergency calls will be handled by deputies rather than city police.

County commander Tony Barnes has said he doesn't expect an affect on service, even though the number of deputies remains the same with a larger area to cover.

La Center police chief Tim Hopkin said losing the annual money won't make a big difference because staff wasn't added to handle extra calls, and the money was funneled into the general fund, not to the Department. Plans to hire an officer this year may be delayed, however.

Hall said he isn't sure how the lost income will affect Ridgefield's general fund or his department.

"We will work to provide options to council about how it may affect the operations of our department," Hall said. "It's too premature to say."

Other losses are services that came to those cities through alliance with the County.

Both entities enjoyed reduced rates for SWAT, K-9 units, child abuse intervention, gang and drug task forces and major crimes services.

"They shared their resources," Hall said. "The County provided what we didn't have staffing or expertise for. We plan to work an agreement with the County so we can still have essential services."

In a letter to Hopkin and Hall, County deputy Mike Evans said ending the agreement is necessary because of current budget shortfalls in the County that will not support either contract.

"Thank you for the years of service that you and your officers have provided," Evans wrote.

$20 million "far in excess" of value; another company begins moving freight

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

A "12th hour" offer to buy the Clark County-owned Chelatchie Prairie Railroad by the company that leased it for 16 years has stalled.

Before Lewis and Clark Railway's (LINC) lease ended Jan. 31, president and general manager Ed Berntsen chose to exercise the "exclusive right to purchase" the 33-mile track.

County officials opened negotiations, set the price at a minimum $20 million cash, and requested Berntsen provide written evidence of the company's ability to finance and fund the purchase. Berntsen was given until Feb. 18 to respond.

On Feb. 18, Berntsen said the minimum cash price of $20 million "is far in excess of the commercially reasonable value for this line of railroad and its associated track, structures, right of way land and present traffic levels."

By telephone, Berntsen said he is still interested in purchasing the railroad, but not at that price.

Berntsen would not discuss further whether purchasing is still an option or the subject has been dropped.

"The matter is under negotiations with the County and I really can't discuss this further," he said.

In his letter, Berntsen said the County's offer wasn't in "good faith" a "sale at a price that can be justified by commonly accepted railroad-industry procedures for valuing in-use railroad right of way land, track and structures as a working common carrier railroad."

Steve Schulte, Clark County railroad coordinator, said the price is based partly on land values, but County commissioners also took into account individual parcels and that the line is "a unique corridor."

"They took the community asset valuation approach," Schulte said. "It is a continuous 33-mile corridor that dissects diagonally through the heart of the county."

Schulte said commissioners also considered the line's potential for light rail, passenger and commuter service, pipelines, telecommunications, walking and biking trails and potential economic development.

"There are a lot of additional components that come off valuation," Schulte said. "That's why it's value is more than raw assessed land."

As for negotiations with Berntsen, County officials are reviewing his letter and whether there are continuing obligations under the purchase provision in the lease.

However, Schulte said Berntsen did not comply with the County's request in initial negotiations.

"Clearly they did not provide a demonstration of financial capability or a written commitment to buy," he said. "They did not meet conditions by the deadline."

Freight finally moving

As of Feb. 20, an 8-month interim lease to move freight on the south line from Battle Ground to the Lakeshore area was in place with Columbia Basin Railroad, an eastern Washington company.

Columbia Basin's part-owner Eric Temple filed for a Common Carrier Authority Permit which should be in place Feb. 27, Schulte said.

"Our highest priority at this point is serving our shippers," Schulte said. "The ball in the air that is getting the most attention is freight."

Since mid-January when LINC stopped deliveries because the company couldn't afford insurance, Andersen Dairy of Battle Ground and a pipe company on the line have been without rail service, Schulte said.

Andersen Dairy has been using trucks to bring plastic pellets for milk jugs into the city.

Columbia Basin's 1965 General Motors/Electra Motive Division, 12-cylinder, 1,200 horsepower switch engine was hauled from Yakima by Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad service and arrived at the County rail yard Feb. 17. It began pulling cars Feb. 20.

County officials and Temple continue discussions about rail plans and are working toward a permanent contract, Schulte said.

Of special interest to County officials are Temple's plans to bring a dinner train to the line similar to Temple's Southwest Washington Dinner Train based in the Seattle area.

Meanwhile, negotiations to extend the lease on the north line for the Battle Ground, Yacolt, Chelatchie Prairie Railroad volunteer group for seasonal excursions will continue, Schulte said.

"A lot of issues are being resolved," Schulte said. "It's all coming together."

Mark Boomhower's bright red Isuzu Trooper was stolen some time overnight Feb. 18 from in front of his brother's apartment complex off McGillivray Blvd. in east Vancouver.

Boomhower, 21, is a 2001 Prairie High School graduate and has also attended Clark College. He is currently a U.S. Army private E-2 stationed at Ft. Hood, TX.

Just prior to getting his truck stolen, Boomhower contacted his father, Battle Ground resident Edwin Boomhower, requesting that the truck be shipped to Texas because the soldiers have no place to store their gear right now.

Other soldiers at Ft. Hood are returning from Iraq, Boomhower said, so the newer soldiers are living in stark temporary quarters.

Boomhower's 1991 Trooper's license plate is 193 HXH. The vehicle doesn't have the "Trooper" name on its front grill. The front windshield has some cracks in it. On the back are two stickers--Army and a U.S. flag. It has new deep-tread snow tires on stock rims.

Anyone with information about the truck is asked to call the Vancouver Police, 696-8292.

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

ViaTech Publishing Solutions will become the first company to lease space at the new Kalama River Industrial Park.

Workers from Viatech's Longview-based branch will relocate to the Park this summer.

The company will move into a new 23,000 square-foot facility built last year by Five Rivers Construction for the Port. The building was partially funded by a $500,000 Cowlitz County Rural Development grant.

Port of Kalama executive director Lanny Cawley said the grant enabled Port officials to lease property at a competitive rate.

The Port's website shows the lease advertised at 35 cents per square foot.

The Kalama River Industrial Park features 75 acres of available land as well as immediate access to I-5. The park also has on-site access to Burlington Northern/Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads, as well as to international shipping.

Port of Kalama commissioner Jim Lucas said he is pleased to see the first tenant in place at the site.

"It's rewarding to see our plans to build a spec building worked as we wished," Lucas said. "Hopefully, this will be the seed that will bring more tenants."

Based in Bay Shore, NY, ViaTech has 11 locations throughout the United States and Europe.

ViaTech is a full-service, digital printing company, specializing in publishing materials for clients on demand. The company produces technical and educational books, training materials, customer support materials and internal communication materials. Clients include Franklin Covey, Papa Murphy's Pizza, Sony, Hyster, Steelscape and Les Schwab Tires.

Monte Schrock, who will manage the Kalama Plant, said company representatives looked at several places throughout Washington for the facility to move.

Schrock said Kalama was chosen because of the price, size of building and location. In addition, the 26 employees affected by the change will not have to move from their residences in Longview and surrounding areas.

"Being in an industrial park is a real plus," Schrock said, "especially when it comes to getting trucks in and out. Plus, I love the Kalama River."

SEABROOK ANNOUNCES RUN FOR SENATE

Firefighter will attempt to unseat Zarelli

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Battle Ground resident Dave Seabrook has announced that he will challenge republican incumbent Joe Zarelli in November for the District 18 senate seat.

This is Seabrook's second effort to reach Olympia. The 45-year-old democrat failed in 2002 to unseat state representative Ed Orcutt.

A captain and paramedic with the Vancouver Fire Department, Seabrook earned a bachelor of science degree in earth science from Northern Arizona University and a masters degree in public affairs from Washington State University.

"We have a crisis of credibility and need to elect leaders we can trust," said Seabrook about why he chose to run. He declined specifics, and said public distrust of politicians is widespread.

The candidate said schools need smaller classes and teachers need decent wage increases. Seabrook said that, if elected, he will promote small businesses, create family-wage jobs and make an effort to lower health-care costs.

Seabrook said the challenge in Olympia is to "find solutions without mortgaging the future of our children."

Seabrook said he doesn't view taxes as a good solution because state taxes are among the most regressive in the nation.

Seabrook said he needs to know more specifics about the issues before suggesting how to solve problems. He said that if elected, he will always consider what is good public policy before worrying about how to be reelected.

The challenger was a governor-appointee to the Adult Protective Services Regional Resource Team, and served on the Clark County Human Services Review Committee and Southwest Washington Regional Emergency Medical Services Council.

A Battle Ground resident for 15 years and member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Brush Prairie, Seabrook lives with his wife, Karen, and two children.

Zarelli runs for third term

State senator Joe Zarelli, 42, said he will run for his third four-year state senate term.

Elected in 1995, Zarelli's Olympia experience includes memberships on the Economic Development, Education, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Capital Budget and Rules committees. He was elected to chair the Ways and Means Committee in December 2003.

Zarelli said his efforts in Olympia helped create tax credits for technology companies that locate and/or stay in Washington as meaningful employers, committed $17 million of state funding to a Columbia River dredging project, and helped get the NE 219th St. interchange on the state "nickel gas tax" project list.

Zarelli said he helped the state deal with a budget deficit of more than $2 billion without raising taxes.

"The House wanted more taxes and we said `no' in the Senate," he said.

A U.S. Navy veteran from 1982-89, Zarelli earned an Aassociates of Arts and Science degree from Clark College. He is a managing partner for Professional Security Concepts, an investigative and security consulting firm.

In 2003, Zarelli was honored by the Washington Conservative Union for a perfect voting record. He received a Family Honors Award for Public Policy from Families Northwest in 2000, and a Guardian of Small Business Award in 2002.

Zarelli is a member of City Harvest Church in Hazel Dell and lives in Ridgefield with his family. The Zarellis have four daughters and two grandchildren.

PacifiCorp advisory says camping fees unchanged

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Citizens may call to reserve campground spaces at Cresap Bay and Cougar Camp parks along the Lewis River starting March 1, said a Feb. 16 PacifiCorp official.

The PacifiCorp reservation Recreation Line, (503) 813-6666, is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Campsites at other PacifiCorp campgrounds will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

PacifiCorp operates nine recreational facilities, including 318 camping and 268 picnic sites, fresh water, free hot showers, swimming beaches, boat ramps and restrooms along three Lewis River reservoirs. Facilities are located between 10 and 40 miles east of Woodland along SR-503.

Spokesman Dave Kvamme said campground fees are unchanged from last year. Fees range from $12-$15 per night, plus $2 for extra occupants and $5 per extra vehicle.

Overnight moorage at

Cresap Bay Campground is $5. The fee for group camping at 15 sites by a maximum of 120 people is $225.

Group picnic sites at Merwin Park remain at $15, plus individual parking costs.

Parking fees are not collected off-season. Between Memorial Day weekend May 29-31, and Sept. 15, there is a parking fee of $3 Fri.-Sun., and holidays at reservoir day-use parks, except for Merwin Park where the fee is $1.

Parking fees are not charged for river access sites below Merwin and Eagle Cliff Park above Swift Reservoir.

Parking passes for the summer season are $20, available at the Woodland Information Center in Woodland, Jack's Restaurant east of Ariel, Cougar Store in Cougar and at staffed park fee booths. Passes may be purchased by mail from Recreation Department, PacifiCorp, 825 NE Multnomah St., Suite 1500, Portland, OR 97232. Application forms are on line at www.lewisriver.com and can be obtained by calling the Recreation Line.

Thousand Trails Management Services, Inc. will continue to manage Lewis River recreational facilities for PacifiCorp. Cowlitz and Clark County Sheriff's offices and a private security firm for added security are contracted.

A no-alcohol policy remains in effect at campgrounds and reservoirs, said PacifiCorp recreation supervisor Jane Hills.

Campground seasons vary by site. Merwin, Speelyai Bay and Yale parks open April 1. Cresap Bay, Saddle Dam and Cougar Campground areas open the Friday before Memorial Day weekend May 29-31. Beaver Bay and Swift Camp open the last Friday of April.

Approval of MOU cites concerns for zoning, land-use, gaming

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Ignoring shouts and angry citizens with placards Feb. 17, the Clark County commissioners executed an agreement with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe.

Continuing a Feb. 10 public hearing, commissioners gave approval to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets ground rules if the Tribe develops 151 acres at the junction of I-5 and NW 319th St. near La Center.

Tribal leaders intend to seek trust status on the land from the U.S. Department of Interior, a move that could pave the way to casino gaming at the site.

The agreement requires tribal leaders to contract for County law enforcement and fire services.

Terms obligate tribal leaders to mitigate traffic and environmental impacts of any development, to construct a waste disposal system, obtain water from Clark Public Utilities and reimburse other area agencies, including school districts, that provide public services.

Additional fees apply if the Tribe operates a gaming casino.

Angry reactions

Intending to deliberate after hearing 29 testimonies on Feb. 10, commissioners did not invite more public comment.

Two La Center residents, one a retired County employee, vented from an aisle in the center of the hearing room.

"Sit down! Sit down!" shouted commissioner Judie Stanton as La Center resident Samantha Schook tried to speak.

Schook, a former contract manager with County Community Services, said citizens weren't given enough notice to understand or comment on the issue.

"This has been a public process that we've been discussing for a long time," said commissioner Betty Sue Morris.

Morris said it is not unusual when commissioners are ready to make a final decision for some citizens to claim they did not hear about an issue.

Morris said the agreement requires the tribe to pay "in lieu" taxes on all land in trust and a percent of gambling revenues if a casino is built.

La Center opposition and tardy legislator concerns

Several citizens from La Center, a city that receives about $3 million in taxes from four card rooms each year, fear that a gaming casino at the nearby I-5 junction will destroy the city's tax base.

About 50 La Center residents at a Feb. 16 meeting vowed to ask federal authorities to consider economic, environmental and social impacts before granting trust status on the Cowlitz land.

Some Ridgefield and La Center residents on the East Fork of the Lewis River raised environmental issues at the Feb. 10 hearing, including concerns about potential run-off from a future tribal land parking lot.

In a Feb. 13 letter to the commissioners, nine area state legislators urged commissioners to pause. But with Monday a holiday, the letter never reached the commissioners until after they approved the agreement.

In the letter, Tom Mielke, Ed Orcutt, Joe Zarelli, Marc Boldt, Deb Wallace, Don Benton, Bill Fromhold, Jim Moeller and Don Carlson said an agreement should require the Tribe to agree to follow all federal environmental rules.

The letter, sent by regular mail, asked commissioners to mandate a state Environmental Impact Statement and expressed concerns about potential traffic, employment security and economic impacts.

During the hearing, Morris said, "This is not a land-use application." She said the agreement requires the Tribe to remedy any traffic problems with state Department of Transportation oversight and to conform to all land-use rules.

Agreement "not an endorsement"

Commissioner Craig Pridemore said approval of the MOU might signal County approval of the Tribe's application for trust status and future gaming plans.

Pridemore said, "I see nothing good for the community with tribal trust status." He said he has strong concerns about a competitive advantage a tribal casino would have over area card rooms.

Pridemore proposed wording in the accord show that approval of the MOU is not intended to support trust status of land or gambling at the site, and that approval intends only to mitigate against potential costs to the County.

The other commissioners agreed. All approved the accord.

On several occasions, tribal leaders have said they intend to negotiate with city of La Center officials after executing an accord with Clark County.

Tribal leader John Barnett said he is pleased with the commissioner decision. "We've waited a long time," added Barnett.

MORATORIUM LOOMS IN RIDGEFIELD

Anticipated commercial and industrial growth may not happen

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

Ridgefield's recent $3.5 million wastewater treatment plant expansion may not last three years.

Economic development and future residential construction may be stymied because a discharge permit granted late last year is not what city officials expected.

City officials built the plant expansion to accommodate an additional 1,147 residential hookups (Equivalent Dwelling Unit [EDU]), with approval from the state Department of Ecology.

However, Ecology officials granted a permit for only 613 EDUs in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. That is 534 less than expected.

According to city clerk Kay Kammer, there are currently 1,129 permits for new homes approved or in the pre-approval stages.

Consulting city engineer Dean Hergesheimer with Wallis Engineering told Ecology officials that, "It is anticipated that [Ridgefield] could have an additional 500-700 houses built in the next two to three years. The issuance of those permits were based on the understanding that we had that the [treatment plant] capacity would be permitted at [1,147 EDUs]."

Expansion and upgrades to the plant were completed in 2002. The plant was expanded and approved by Ecology with the specific increased capacity in mind, Ridgefield officials said.

But Ecology officials say Ridgefield has failed to comply with terms of a prior permit. Ridgefield has not sought approval of a corridor to the Columbia River as required, said state officials, and has not constructed an adequate clarifier.

Appeal filed late

The federal permit is renewed every five years. Ridgefield's expired last June, and a new one was issued in mid-December 2003 which took affect in early January.

The permit was received by the city Dec. 15. Appeals to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board are allowed if filed within 30 days.

Ridgefield officials filed in 31 days.

The appeal was one day late for a variety of reasons, said city attorney Brian Wolfe, one reason being that no one noticed the discrepancy between what was permitted and what was expected until the 30th day.

Health problems, holidays, weather

In a deposition to Ecology, Public works superintendent Randall Jones said "it apparently was given to me by the city manager, Randy Bombardier, for further handling. I have no recollection of receiving the documents."

Jones said he "was suffering serious medical problems at the time," including a "mild stroke on or about Dec. 15 which has adversely affected my memory. I certainly was not thinking clearly."

Jones also said he had a "houseful of company from out of town for a period of three to four days" during the holiday season, and that the severe snow and ice storm Jan. 5-9 kept him busy with responsibilities at public works.

It wasn't until a conversation with Hergesheimer Jan. 14 that the issue about the Permit came up, Jones said.

"In that conversation, I learned for the first time that Mr. Hergesheimer was not aware of the receipt of the NPDES Permit," Jones said in a legal declaration to the Hearings Board for an appeal. "In our conversation, I suddenly realized that [Ecology] had only granted [Ridgefield] .5 mgd (million gallons per day) allowance when our plans called for .7 mgd capacity."

"In that conversation, for the very first time...I realized that the City should have filed an appeal of the grant of reduced capacity," Jones added.

Wolfe sent an appeal by fax to the Hearings Board Jan. 15, which was 31 days after the Permit was granted.

On Jan. 28, state attorney general Christine Gregoire and senior counsel Jay Geck asked the Board to dismiss the appeal because Ridgefield officials "failed to appeal within the jurisdictional time limits set forth" in state law.

Wolfe submitted an affidavit to the Board opposing the denial, but the attorney general's recommendation for denial stood.

"It would be particularly bad policy to accept the city's excuses," Geck wrote. "The City's argument is that no one on its staff read the permit in time to file an appeal before Jan. 14."

Geck stated holidays and bad weather are not "an excuse for not reading the permit conditions, given that a treatment plant must operate and comply with permit conditions 365 days a year."

"There was no timely appeal and the permit is now final," Geck concluded.

The case is currently before a Hearings Board judge who will hear the merits of Ridgefield's appeal regarding timeliness before making a decision, Geck said.

If the judge agrees with Ridgefield officials, a hearing date will be set. If not, the appeal is closed, Geck said.

"A significant and major consequence"

Hergesheimer told Hearings Board officials the lower permit "has a significant and major consequence on the city of Ridgefield."

Hergesheimer said if the limit remains in place and building construction does happen as planned, anticipated commercial and industrial growth may not happen.

Businesses typically use multiple EDUs, whereas one home generally uses only one.

"The capacity to serve economic development for commercial and industrial uses will be consumed [by residential build-out] before the City can arrange financing, design and build additional improvement facilities," he said.

City manager fires off angry letter

According to David Knight, environmental engineer with Ecology, federal Permits are issued every five years with conditions.

Ridgefield's recently expired Permit, which was issued in 1998, contained a condition that city officials look into securing a corridor through the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to dump effluent into the Columbia River.

"We did not require them to build an outfall," Knight said. "They were asked to secure the land corridor for future capacity and report to Ecology each year on the status."

At that time, Ridgefield officials agreed, saying it would be more cost effective to flow to the Columbia River rather than continue discharging into Lake River which may not be able to handle the plant's extra wastewater, Knight said.

But city officials apparently dropped the ball.

According to Knight, there were "a few" years where Ridgefield officials never submitted a progress report as required by the 1998 Permit.

As a result, the condition was continued into the new Permit and the EDU capacity lowered.

City officials were told about the pending problem with the new Permit and its requirements in a meeting with Knight last May.

However, after the meeting Bombardier fired off a three-page letter to Knight.

In part, Bombardier wrote, "To sit at the meeting in Olympia and hear you say that it was hard to swallow that we did not file the reports as required in our current permit made my blood boil...I personally would have sent the report had I known about it, but I do not recall getting a notice from anyone at [Ecology] that a report was past due..."

"Now, it appears that our Engineering firm did know, but unless they were charged...with submitting the report, there was no one in City ranks who did know," Bombardier continued.

Bombardier also said that some effort was made to secure the corridor with National Wildlife Refuge officials in 2001, but it must not have been reported.

Bombardier also balked at Ecology's recommendations to not use Lake River in the future, and wanted to "make sure...that the same regulations that apply to Ridgefield...apply to others who contribute to the identified problem we are trying to solve."

"I do not want to commit to costly projects or costly consulting studies until someone shows me why," he wrote. "I want to know for certain before we commit to future plans."

Bombardier also said Ridgefield "has the unfortunate responsibility on behalf of our customers to resist regulation for regulation's sake," and hoped to continue working in "good faith with fellow public servants who are overworked and underpaid."

Knight's response to Bombardier reiterated the city's problems regarding Lake River and to find an alternative outfall for the future.

According to Knight, Ecology's conditions for the Permit were not met, and the new Permit reflects that.

"If they can't secure the corridor, they need to submit a plan about what they are going to do," Knight said. "We want to help guide them. The last thing we want to do is put the city on a moratorium. The new plan should show where [effluent] is going to go so they don't run out of capacity and can grow at the rate they wish to grow."

The city's appeal also argued against Ecology's allegations that there is no "standby clarifier," when in fact there is one, Wolfe said.

However, an Ecology compliance inspection report states the clarifier is "quite small," "antiquated," capacity is limited to a "low flow summer day," algae buildup in backup is a "potential problem," and that it is "substandard."

In the appeal, Wolfe said Ecology also based their decision on an "assumption," not proven fact, that Lake River requires a higher degree of treatment and could not take additional ammonia loading from Ridgefield.

Knight wrote that city officials themselves decided against continuing to use Lake River in 1998 because of its lower capacity.

What next?

"We're not dead in the water," said Wolfe. "The appeal method seemed a quicker opportunity. Whether this is easily fixable or not, I don't know."

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Battle Ground School District will study how other districts handle bullies and will create a parents' committee to further develop procedures about the matter.

The pledge to take these steps came Feb. 17 at the end of one of the District's "chat sessions"--a time set aside for District patrons to discuss matters of general interest with administrators and teachers.

About 20 people showed up at the meeting--three patrons and the rest District representatives.

Battle Ground barber Neal Blomquist, who helped organize the meeting, commended administrators for their attendance while chastising District patrons for not attending.

Several sports events as well as a bond meeting were also scheduled that night.

Much of the discussion centered around parent Leslie Jones' experiences and how she believes allegations of sexual harassment within the District are incorrectly handled. The meeting was sometimes emotionally charged.

Jones filed a formal complaint against the District in fall 2002 on behalf of her oldest daughter. The daughter, who has since graduated, alleged sexual harassment at one of the District's high schools. Jones's other child now attends school in another District on a boundary exception.

Jones has accused District administrators more than once of improperly investigating her daughter's case.

In addition, Jones believes administrators took no steps to prevent retaliation against her child. She fears the District has set up few systems to protect children, contrasted to a variety of unions and administrators that protect teacher's and the District's interests.

District administrators clarified some of Jones's concerns and fielded questions about legalities and process.

Another parent raised the issue of supervision for younger students while on buses.

Consultant Kelly Keister, who facilitated the meeting, steered the group toward creating mechanisms to handle similar concerns if they arise in the future.

Administrator Jane Mercier, who directs the District's special education programs, said the entire issue of bullying and harassment is tricky because District administrators find themselves in a dual role of needing to protect students who are harassed, while still encouraging education for students who perpetrate offensive actions.

"It's a very fine dance," Mercier said, "and a very complicated role."

Superintendent Shonny Bria discussed how she was often picked on as a child because of a speech and hearing impediment. She pledged her support to squelch bullying and harassment within the District.

Laurin Middle School principal Paul Bardzik, who also represents the District's principals' association, spoke of the need for preventative education to re-channel misdirected students.

"We need to work with students ahead of time to break [negative] molds," Bardzik said.

The group developed a variety of ways to improve the District's current policy and practice toward handling bullies and harassment. Options include:

** Hiring investigators from outside the District, which is not easy to do, said administrators, because the District will always need to pay some party to do investigations, thus creating a relationship with potential conflict of interest;

** Displaying bullying and harassment policies so students and parents have easier access to information;

** Providing additional education for students and staff relating to bullying and harassment;

** Creating a student advocate or ombudsman position; and

** Surveying students and staff anonymously regarding safety issues.

Speakers pan County commissioners

Bill Myers, staff reporter

Area residents forming a group called Stand Up for North Clark County Citizens met Feb. 16 in La Center to oppose efforts by the Cowlitz Tribe to gain trust status on lands at I-5 and NW 319th St.

The meeting was moderated by La Center school board director Randy Goolsby.

About 50 citizens heard card room consultant and state lobbyist John Bockmier stress that Cowlitz Tribe leaders should not be criticized for trying to improve economic conditions of tribal members.

Bockmeir said Clark County commissioners are not correct when they say they can't affect the outcome of tribal efforts to gain trust status.

Federal officials at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of Interior weigh public opinion when making decisions, he said. Bockmeir urged citizens to send e-mail and/or letters addressing economic, environmental and social concerns to state and federal officials.

La Center city council member Richard Curtis said County commissioners are ignoring potential economic hazards faced by La Center.

Curtis said commissioner Betty Sue Morris promised at a meeting almost two years ago to protect the interests of La Center while dealing with the Cowlitz Tribe.

During a Feb. 17 public hearing, Morris denied that city officials ever made a formal request for the commissioners to negotiate for them.

Curtis said he tried for more than a year, without success, to work with Cowlitz Tribe spokesman Dave Barnett.

Curtis and La Center citizen Bill Beyer said Barnett threatened to scuttle any tribal agreement with La Center if Curtis did not support the Tribe's agreement with Clark County.

Barnett denied the allegation, and said he has two other witnesses to the conversation.

Newly introduced legislation in Washington, D.C., could cause tribal officials to hurry the process, said Curtis.

Congressmen Christopher Shays (R-Ct) and Frank Wolf (R-Va) recently introduced the Tribal and Local Community Relationship Improvement Act, a bill which requires approvals by state legislatures of any new Indian casinos. The purpose of the bill is to give citizens a final word on casino construction in their communities, said Shays.

Citizens Group leaders include Goolsby, Wendy McGraw and Kamie Biehl. Biehl, a contact person at 263-2582, said the group will meet Monday evenings. Call for times.

Figure back down to $55 million

Marcus Brotherton , staff reporter

Battle Ground School Board members decided Feb. 18 to ask voters to endorse a $55 million bond May 18 toward construction of four new schools and other projects.

Board chairman Sam Kim called the proposal "robust" and said the bond represents "an exciting time" for the District.

Board member Fred Striker said the bond will be "one of the greatest things area residents have seen for the past 30 years."

"It will help resolve our overcrowding problems in this area," Striker said. "It's great for the kids. It's great for the community."

Eleventh hour fine-tuning shifted bond rates up and down by nearly $10 million. A proposal reviewed about one week ago called for some $64 million. The final figure of $55 million is similar to what was presented to the Board by a bond committee in December.

If passed, the bond will add 65-70 cents per $1,000 assessed value to property owner's taxes, depending on interest rates when bonds are sold, said District business manager Mary Beth Lynn.

Battle Ground voters currently pay 65 cents per $1,000 on a 1993 school bond. For property owners of a $200,000 house, the new bond will raise tax bills about $130-$140 annually.

What's coming

The bond proposal includes a plan to demolish and replace Lewisville and Laurin middle schools. Previous proposals called for renovations only.

Chief Umtuch Primary will also be demolished, with additions made at Captain Strong Elementary. The lower building at Amboy Middle will be demolished and replaced.

Two new K-8 schools are proposed to be built--a plan that has seen little revision since first proposed by the bond committee.

Additional plans call for purchasing 40 acres for a new north county high school. Previous designs called for purchasing 10 acres adjoining Amboy Middle, but Board members believe that option had too many limitations, they said.

Prairie High School will see a refurbished auditorium. Battle Ground High School will see a practice drama stage addition. District stadium will see various upgrades, a new field surface and 500 additional seats.

Some technological upgrades are planned as well as HVAC upgrades and replacements at several schools.

Who pays for what?

District officials say the actual construction costs for all the projects will total about $94.7 million.

Some of that money (about $39.8 million) is expected to come from the state in the form of matching funds.

The amount of matching funds has shifted several times during the proposal stage, something that is not unusual, say District officials.

According to assistant superintendent Lynn Hicks, the state funds a percentage of school construction projects based on proposed square footage and number of unhoused students, and whether area citizens first pledge to pay for the majority of costs.

Hicks said the formula used to calculate state matching funds is fairly complicated and differs from district to district.

An initial formula had calculated state match funds for the Battle Ground proposal at 70 percent of $125 per square foot, but Hicks said further research revealed that calculation was erroneous.

The final proposal uses a formula of 76.8 percent--a computation which potentially has the state contributing almost $5.9 million more than previously proposed.

Another change was switching architect companies. Bond committee members worked with the Seattle-based NW Architecture for several months to generate figures used in the initial recommendation.

About two weeks ago, District officials hired the Portland and Vancouver-based LSW Architects to work on the final project. LSW is the same company that designed Hockinson High School.

Hicks said NW Architecture's original contract was to do a study and survey only, and that District officials liked that LSW is based closer to the area, although both companies have constructed schools in southwest Washington.

Despite changes, all except one of the 20 bond committee members endorsed the final proposal.

Committee member Russ Wadleigh is concerned that dollar figures in the final proposal are too general. He fears District administration wants to create a slush fund to be used for additional projects once voter-approved projects are paid for.

Wadleigh directed attention to a handout provided by LSW Architects showing the cost per square foot for all schools done by the company in the past five years.

The state average cost per square foot is $150. Battle Ground's final proposal calls for $144. All of LSW's projects have come in under that amount, ranging from $117 per square foot to replace Evergreen School District's Cascade Middle School, to $142 per square foot to build Heritage High School. Hockinson High School was built for $120 per square foot.

Thomas Johansen, LSW associate, said all bids for new schools come in initially high to safeguard against unexpected costs incurred during construction.

"It's hard to pinpoint exact square footage right now," Johansen said. "It's prudent to plan for some sort of contingency."

Kim, the Board chair, is not concerned about the final bond figures. He said the flexibility evident in the final proposal is a wise move when dealing with dollar figures of that amount, inflation, and non-fixed construction schedules.

A facilities committee will be established to monitor spending costs during construction and also to determine the uses of any extra money. NEWS

HUGS, KISSES WELCOME IRAQ VET

Bill Myers, staff reporter

It was the day after Valentine's Day, but the homecoming still tugged at her heart strings.

After no hugs or kisses for a year, Battle Ground resident Karen Boucher embraced her soldier husband, Daniel, on Feb. 15 at Ft. Lewis near Tacoma.

Daniel, with 170 fellow U.S. Army reservists, had just touched down at McCord Air Force Base aboard military transport flights from Iraq.

Boucher, 32, is a staff sergeant with the 671st Engineering Co.

The construction unit was attached to the U.S. Army 3rd Division and earned a unit citation for building bridges and schools. Unit members also fixed six dilapidated water treatment plants that had provided bacteria-laden water to citizens under the Saddam Hussein regime.

While the 671st was in Iraq, one reservist died and another was injured in a Humvee accident. Another soldier suffered shrapnel wounds from a roadside bomb.

Brush Prairie reservist, specialist Eric Sealey, also serves with the unit.

Members of the 671st are home for the foreseeable future.

Being in harm's way isn't new to Boucher. His nine years of active Army duty included a one-year tour in Bosnia.

A 1990 Battle Ground High School graduate, Boucher married Karen Jones, his high school sweetheart.

Karen Boucher said she and her four children look forward to resuming a normal life, with Dad working as a sheet metal worker and being home at night.

GROUP EYES AMPHITHEATER DETOURS, ROUTES

Bill Myers, staff reporter

An Amphitheater traffic study group met Feb. 17 to weigh possible detour and contingency routes for traffic during events at the Amphitheater at Clark County.

Moderated by Clark County public works director Pete Capell, the group was formed last month. Members include state and County transportation officials, private traffic consultants and Amphitheater representatives. Members meet weekly.

Marc Butorac, a traffic consultant with Kittelson & Associates, said routing regular traffic away from arriving peak-hour Amphitheater traffic flows would help alleviate congestion on NE 179th St.

Detours for traffic heading to I-5 or I-205 from the Battle Ground area were discussed.

An option to move traffic west on NE 199th St., south on Old Delfel Rd. to NE 179th St. and onto I-5 was discounted because the route would conflict with incoming amphitheater flows on NE 179th St.

Other options would move traffic to I-5 ramps at NE 269th St., or south on NE 29th Ave. to NE 134th St. and I-5 or I-205.

Capell said several people use NE 72nd Ave. to get from Battle Ground to Vancouver.

Passive or required?

Passive detours are suggested but not mandated. Required detours leave motorists no choice. Group members agreed it would be best to urge detours before mandating them.

Butorac said detours during events should be constant so motorists could become accustomed to them.

Traffic flows of 400 to 500 vehicles per hour on detours during the afternoon peak-hour travel period would be within road-carrying capacities, said the consultant.

Group members considered ways to minimize northbound traffic on Union Ave. while heavy inbound flows come off the northbound I-5 ramp. Members mulled turn restrictions and blocking northbound traffic during peak arrival times.

Contingency routes

Butorac and other members said they want a plan in place if an accident or other incident causes arriving traffic to back up on I-5.

Butorac said contingency routes should be identified and made available in the "play-books" of law enforcement officials in the event of such incidents.

Amphitheater manager Brad Lothspeich said contingency routes should also be used when "sold out" venues at the Amphitheater create abnormal traffic flows.

Butorac explained how inbound traffic from the northbound off-ramp could be "released through" to SR-502. Such traffic would be routed north to NE 199th St., west on NE 199th St., and south on Delfel Rd. to NE 179th St. and the Amphitheater.

Another option would route traffic north on SR-502, west on NE 199th St., and south on 11th Ave. to NE 179th St. and the Amphitheater.

Capell said the topic at the next meeting will be exiting after Amphitheater events.

Exits from the facility by large crowds is a knotty problem. Last year, patrons at well-attended events waited hours to exit Amphitheater parking lots.

Butorac said southbound on-ramps to I-5 from NE 179th St. can handle about 2,000 cars per hour.

If 2,000 patrons of a sell-out crowd of 18,000 ride buses and 90 percent are from Portland or Vancouver, 6,000 to 7,000 autos could head for the southbound ramp after a concert.

Citizens for Transportation Safety

"Let's cut to the chase," said Vancouver attorney John Karpinski who represents a group called Citizens for Transportation Safety.

Karpinski asked if the Amphitheater developer would be required to spend "good old American currency" for necessary improvements, such as expanding the southbound I-5 ramp.

Capell said the group is still evaluating traffic flow and will have to assess bottlenecks after group recommendations are implemented.

"We don't have an answer yet," he said.

OBITS

JUDY JOHNSON

Judy Kay (Henderson) Johnson, 54, died Feb. 13, 2004 in Cathlamet.

Johnson was born March 12, 1949 in Springfield, Ohio, worked as a bartender in Vancouver and at the Duck Inn in Skamokawa, and moved from Vancouver to Cathlamet in 1990.

Johnson liked the outdoors, and loved to play bingo. She enjoyed her family.

Johnson was preceded in death by two brothers. Survivors include son Ed Johnson of Yacolt, sister Carol Inman of Vancouver, companion Tom Pfiefle of Cathlamet, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held Sat., Feb. 28, 1 p.m., at 750 Elochoman Valley Rd., Cathlamet, with the Steele Chapel in Longview in charge of arrangements. for directions call Lori Martin, 84904491.

JOHN VOLENTINE

John B. Volentine, 84, died Feb. 16, 2004 at home in Brush Prairie.

Volentine was born Aug. 9, 1919 in Deer Trail, CO, served in the U.S. Marine Corp 1941-1960, and lived in Brush Prairie since 1960.

Volentine was a life member of the Masonic Lodge Scottish Rite 32nd Degree of Vancouver, and Blue Lodge of South Carolina. He was also a member of the Brush Prairie Baptist Church.

Volentine was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Eggleston Volentine, in 2003. Survivors include daughters Pamela Rich and Tamera Brokaw, both of Brush Prairie, son Jerry Volentine of Woodland, and grandson John Rich of Brush Prairie.

Burial was at Willamette National Cemetery, with Davies Cremation & Burial Services in charge of arrangements.

WILLIAM STITH

William A. Stith, 65, died Feb. 20, 2004 in Vancouver.

Stith was born Aug. 18, 1938 in Portland, lived in Vancouver until 1980 and then moved to Anchorage, Alaska. He returned to Vancouver in 1995.

Stith worked as general manager for various telephone companies. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Survivors include daughters Kimberly Hixson of Ridgefield, Corliss Pierce of La Center, Cynthia Elliott of Woodland and Jeraldine Stith of Battle Ground, son Mark Stith of Toledo, and six grandchildren.

No services will be held at this time. The Vancouver Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

SUSAN IHRIG

Susan (Alger) Ihrig, 43, died Feb. 9, 2004 in Tucson, AZ.

Ihrig was born Feb. 7, 1961, in Trenton, Michigan, lived in Battle Ground for seven years, and moved to Arizona in August 2003.

Ihrig enjoyed arts and crafts, fishing, camping, traveling, four-wheeling and collecting Mickey Mouse items.

Ihrig had lived in Seattle, Vancouver and Michigan.

Ihrig was preceded in death by her mother, Beverly Compton, in 1992, and brother Mike Alger in 1996. Survivors include son Dale Ihrig Jr. of Lynnwood, sister Margaret Skogley of Yacolt, brothers Scott Compton and Cleutus Compton, both of Arizona, and granddaughter Alysha McCaffrey of Lynnwood.

No services will be held. Hodgel's Swan Mortuary, Tucson, was in charge of arrangements.

ARTHUR SYMONDS

Arthur Richard Symonds, 84, a former resident of Woodland, died Feb. 18, 2004 in Mount Vernon.

Symonds was born Nov. 18, 1919 in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada. He moved with his family to Anacortes where he attended school.

Symonds served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, Symonds moved to Woodland where he lived for 30 years, working for the Cowlitz County Public Utility District.

Symonds was a longtime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Woodland. He enjoyed camping and loved being around his grandchildren.

Symonds was preceded in death by his wife, Bernadine (Lamie) Symonds in 1996, and by four brothers and three sisters. Survivors include daughters Angie Wilkerson of Sedro-Woolley and Rhonda Willis of Centralia, sons Willis Symonds of Hawaii, Terry Symonds of Woodland, and Bernie Symonds of Kalama, brother Walter Symonds of Anacortes, sisters Bessie Moran of Everett and Vie Michaels of Edmonds, 16 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be held Thurs., Feb. 26, 11 a.m., at St. Philips Catholic Church, 430 Bozarth, Woodland, with Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley, in charge of cremation and other arrangements. Online guest register available at

www.lemleychapel.com

ROBERT BLOCK

Robert "Bob" Gene Block, 50, died Feb. 19, 2004 in Battle Ground.

Block was born May 31, 1953 in Bremerton, worked as a body and fender man in auto rebuilding, and lived in Clark County for 47 years.

Block served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a honorary member of the Dollars Corner Moose Lodge. He enjoyed antiques, garage sales and working on cars. He was a former professional motorcycle rider. He enjoyed eating and loved to cook. He liked kids, children and dogs. He had a good sense of humor.

Survivors include mother Jeanette Erickson, at home in Battle Ground, father Robert Block of Vancouver, son Robert "Buck" Block of Vancouver, sisters Joni Warren of Battle Ground and Judy Stewart of Brush Prairie, eight nieces and nephews and eight great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral services will be held Wed., Feb. 25, 11 a.m., at Layne's Funeral Home Chapel, Battle Ground, with Layne's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.